The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-08-25

through certain pretensions SO as to
make themselves appear proper, when,
after considerable delay, the twelve
virgins each takes an ak and gives the
pole one cut, the young bucks finishing
the job. The crossing of stream is
superstitiously forbidden, and when
the young Indians are ready they march
in triumph to the place selected for its
planting" Before them rush a thou
sand young braves on ponies, who fire
the contents of rifles and revolvers until
outside the limits of the encampment,
which, together with their yells, would
drive off any evil spirits that might be
hanging around, and that was their part
of the play. The pole is then raised
and green brush is placed in circle
about it, while the pole itself is gorge
ously decorated with strips of calicoes in
all the brilliant hues, which have been
placed there as Offerings from some
dusky maidens or old squaws.
The sun.dance among these wild people
is a barbarous religion with them.
During the year ali Indian has prayed to
the Great Spirit for fortune in hunting,
restoration of health, or some other
wish, for which he promises, If heprayer
Is granted, to smoke some sacrifice or
dance at the annual sun-dance, which
was usually held during the latter part
of June. 1t is composed of fasting and
feasting combined, those who have made
VOWS fasting for several days, and those
who are to "see them through feasting
on delicious young dogs made into soup.
Mothers who have asked the Great Spirit
for some favor bring their babes and
young children to be "gouged" in the ears
by the medicine men," the girls receiving
two infictions in each ear and
the boys one, for which the medicine
man receives a pony or two. Women
have their arms, shoulders or faces cut
as they may have promised at the time.
The knives used by the medicine men
in these lacerations are anything but
sharp and make ugly wounds. Groups
of men and women dance with up
turned faces to the burning sun, toot.
ing continuously whistle made from an
antelope's bone.
All these scenes are preliminary to
the most barbarous and painful task
of being "brave." The young men
WHIT have fixed their hearts upon this
torture by going through the ordeal
| of being cut in the two breasts and
a sinew passed through the wounds are
tied to a rope attached to the station
ary sun-dance pole, which they endeavol
to break out by continuous dancing and
jerking. Their faces are lifted to the
scorching June sun, while they toot the
monotonous antelope bone whistle
To contribute to their success, som,
near friend or relative throws out
sticks to the surrounding crowds
and q scramble is made to secur,
them, as each stick entities the holder t.
a prize. Invoking the Great Spirit TO-
success is general with the medicine
men, while groups of dancers will
whistles, and bands of nearly naked wilt
men, painted in all colors-yellow, green
red, blue, black, white or purple, il
whole, in part or combinations, with de
signs of hands, horseshoe prints, horses
Indians and the like-go through mourn
full singing to the beats of dozen drum
mers, making the conglomc ration O
noises anything but what band leade
would term harmony" On the occa
sion to which this article refers but on
out of the three succeeded in breakin!